Berry High School

W. A. Berry High School is a former school in the Hoover City Schools system. The campus is located on Columbiana Road near the Vestavia Hills city limit.

History

Berry High School was part of Jefferson County Schools when Hoover formed its own school system in 1988. At that time, it became Hoover's only high school.

Closing

In 1994, Berry High was closed and the students were moved to the new Hoover High School. The campus became home to Berry Middle School until May 2006 when its new campus off of Valleydale Road near Spain Park High School was opened. The former campus has been used since then mainly for recreational sports leagues in the gymnasium and on the playing fields.

In October 2007 the city of Vestavia Hills and Shades Mountain Christian School made a joint offer on the school campus. SMCS would occupy the school buildings while the city would use the athletic fields. The offer expired on December 21 without a decision from the Hoover School Board.

In January 2008 Hoover superintendent of schools Andy Craig presented various long-range plans. One of them included the possibility of re-opening the campus as a middle school feeding into Hoover High School.

Notable alumni

• Andy Andrews, comedian and motivational author
• Murry Bartow, basketball coach at East Tennessee State University and formerly at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Jeff Brantley, baseball pitcher, former ESPN baseball analyst, current Cincinnati Reds analyst
• Dyer Carlisle III, educator and high school and college football coach
• Mike Kolen, Miami Dolphins linebacker
• Stan White, Auburn University quarterback
• Heather Whitestone, 1995 Miss America

References

• Stock, Erin and Tiffany Ray (December 21, 2007) "Berry school offer is likely to expire." Birmingham News
• Ray, Tiffany (January 18, 2008) "Hoover may revive Berry campus as middle school." Birmingham News